Join The Trevor Project in DC to help prevent suicides among LGBT kids

Last week, 15-year-old Billy Lucas killed himself in his barn in Greensburg, Indiana. It was reported that his suicide came after years of bullying because kids thought he was gay. Sadly, this is not a first suicide because of (real or perceived) sexual orientation or identity and certainly won’t be the last.

Also released last week were the results of a 10-year study by the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network that found nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students had been bullied because of their sexual orientation or identity. You can read more here.

Leading the effort to provide support for LGBT and questioning kids and to prevent suicide is The Trevor Project. I’m admittedly a huge fan of the organization (full disclosure: I volunteer through DC’s branch of the National Ambassador’s Council). In fact, AMERICAblog Gay readers in the DC area can support the work of The Trevor Project on Saturday, September 25th at a concert featuring openly-gay singer/songwriter Eric Himan.

I recently spoke with Eric about why he thinks the work of The Trevor Project is important.

“In most cases growing up, when you are going through the coming out process, your family and friends aren’t coming out as well. You could feel like you’re gay when everyone in your family is not, and here you are, this little island. I believe a great majority of the LGBTQ community goes through that, and I am grateful to The Trevor Project for offering services that show LGBTQ youth that they are not alone in their process.”

Nick Seaver
Born and raised in Maine, Nick Seaver moved to DC to study political communication in 2003. He began writing extensively on LGBT rights during the first ballot initiative in Maine that overturned marriage equality. He writes about a variety of issues, ranging from marriage to issues facing LGBT youth. Follow him on Twitter at @NDSeaver.